Prince Albert Raiders’ Mark McNeill named WHL Player of the Week

CALGARY, AB. – The Western Hockey League announced today that Prince Albert Raiders forward Mark McNeill is the WHL Player of the Week.

McNeill collected eight points, scoring five goals and three assists to go with a +4 rating, in three games over the past week helping the Raiders to a 2-1-0-0 record.

On Wednesday, January 25, the Raiders began a three game road trip through the WHL Central Division with their first stop in Medicine Hat. McNeill scored four goals, added an assist and was named the games 2nd Star, but it wasn’t enough as the Tigers downed the Raiders 6-5. On Friday, January 27, McNeill scored his 23rd goal of the season in the Raiders 7-6 road victory over the Kootenay Ice. The next night, Saturday, January 28, the Raiders were in Lethbridge to face the Hurricanes. McNeill nabbed a pair of assists as the Raiders doubled up the ‘Canes 6-3.

McNeill currently ranks 22nd among all WHL scorers with 55 points (23 goals, 32 assists) in 47 games played thus far this season. An 18-year-old from Edmonton, AB, he is in his third full season with the Prince Albert Raiders. McNeill was the 5th overall selection in the 2008 WHL Draft by the Raiders and was selected 18th overall in the 2011 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.

The WHL has also nominated Chris Driedger of the Calgary Hitmen for the CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Driedger posted a 2-0-0-0 record with one shut-out this past week, stopping 48 of 49 shots faced for a 0.980 save-percentage and 0.50 goals-against average. Driedger, a 17-year-old from Winnipeg, MB, is an NHL top prospect who is competing at the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospect Game this week in Kelowna. He led the Hitmen to a pair of victories this past week, a 2-0 shot-out victory over the Vancouver Giants and a 4-1 win over the high flying Tri-City Americans.

WHL Player of the Week

Jan. 23 – Jan. 29: Mark McNeill, Prince Albert Raiders

Jan. 16 – Jan. 22: Michael St. Croix, Edmonton Oil Kings

Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Colin Smith, Kamloops Blazers

Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Brendan Gallagher, Vancouver Giants

Dec. 27 – Jan. 1: Dalton Thrower, Saskatoon Blades

Dec. 2 – Dec. 18: Patrick Holland, Tri-City Americans

Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Mike Winther, Prince Albert Raiders

Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Michael St. Croix, Edmonton Oil Kings

Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Ty Rattie, Portland Winterhawks

Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Mark Stone, Brandon Wheat Kings

Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Alex Petrovic, Red Deer Rebels

Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Hunter Shinkaruk, Medicine Hat Tigers

Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Cody Beach, Moose Jaw Warriors

Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Brendan Gallagher, Vancouver Giants

Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Sven Bartschi, Portland Winterhawks

Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Emerson Etem, Medicine Hat Tigers

Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Mark Stone, Brandon Wheat Kings

Sept. 22 – Sept. 25: Adam Hughesman, Tri-City Americans

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